Grants from £50k to £5 million are now available to help the nation build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic, the government announced this week.

The £40 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund, part of the government’s wider policy for a ‘green economic recovery’, brings forward funding for environmental charities and their partners to start work on projects across England to restore nature and tackle climate change.

The government says the fund will help create up to 3,000 jobs and safeguard up to 2,000 others in areas such as protecting species, finding nature-based solutions to tackling climate change, conservation rangers and connecting people with nature.

The fund will be delivered by the National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England and the Environment Agency.

Projects will be favoured that create or retain jobs, creating opportunities and benefits for all ages.

It is hoped the fund will create a broad range of jobs such as ecologists, surveyors, nature reserve staff and education workers in environment organisations, and support their suppliers in areas such as agricultural engineering, horticulture, and equipment and seed supply.

Environment Minister and Taunton Deane MP Rebecca Pow, said: “I am delighted to launch our game-changing fund to kick-start projects to halt the loss of wildlife and tackle climate change, as we build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Our ambitious fund will help environmental organisations employ more people to work on tree-planting, nature restoration and helping the public enjoy the outdoors.”